No-splatter spout

ABSTRACT

A vertical blade in the spout of a container, on the inside lip of a container or across the top diameter of a container. The blade forms a triangle in the center of the spout. In a spoutless container, the blade extends from the top lip horizontally inside the container for up to two inches, then diagonally down to the inside of the container. Placed across the diameter of a container, the top of the blade is flush with the top of the container and extends down to a maximum of two inches, making a rectangle across the container. Splattering is prevented because liquid is cut, then pulled toward the center. Cohesion pulls liquid toward the blade. Adhesion brings the liquid together after it passes the blade.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] There are no similar devices to the No-Splatter Spout. The SpillInhibiting Spout (U.S. Pat. No. 6,318,604 B1), for example, is a complexdevice that utilizes entirely different principles than those used forthe No-Splatter Spout.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Molecules of a liquid are atracted to each other. This is calledadhesion. They are also atttracted to other materials such as glass,metal, and plastic. This is called cohesion.

[0003] When liquid is poured from a container, adhesion acts to keep ittogether and cohesion acts to pull it to the container's rim, includingthe rim of a spout.

[0004] As a result the liquid has a tendency to spreadout along the rim,causing the liquid to splatter. This tendency increases as viscosityincreases, which is why a thick liquid such as paint or a milkshakesplatters more than water.

[0005] This situation is exacerbated when the liquid coagulates, causingcurdling or clotting, which are extreme forms of adhesion. Thisphenomenom is exemplified by a thick milkshake, but is not to beconfused with solids such as frozen liquids. A thick milkshake can bepoured; a scoop of ice cream cannot.

[0006] The No-Splatter Spout eliminates the splatter problem through theinsertion of a vertical blade in the spout of a container, on the insidelip of a container or across the top diameter of a container.

[0007] If placed in the spout, the blade makes a triangle from the toppoint of the spout down the angled incline of the spout until it reachesthe container proper and then up until it forms a right angle andcontinues back to the point of the spout.

[0008] If placed on the inside lip of a container, the blade extendsfrom the lip horizontally inside the container for up to two inches,then diagonally down to the inside of the container to a point up to twoinches below the top edge of the container.

[0009] If the blade is placed across the diameter of a container, thetop of the blade should be flush with the top of the container. Itshould extend down to a maximum of two inches, making a rectangle acrossthe container or it can be angled up toward the center of the container,creating an archlike effect.

[0010] The material used for the blade should have the same or greatercohesiveness as the material used in the container.

[0011] The blade should be thin to enable it to “cut” the liquid at thepoint farthest from the spout point or container lip, though it is notnecessary that it be of uniform thickness.

[0012] The no-splatter spout works by using cohesion and adhesion on avertical plane. The blade separates the liquid, but when it reaches theend of the blade at the end of the spout or lip of the container,cohesion, having attracted the liquid to the blade surface, will beovertaken by adhesion and the liquid from each side of the blade willcome together. This pull toward the center prevents splattering.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is a top view of a container showing the top of the bladeof the No-Splatter Spout;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the container thatshows a profile of the No-Splatter Spout blade;

[0015]FIG. 3 is a top view of a spoutless container that shows top ofthe No-Splatter blade;

[0016]FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a spoutless containerthat shows the profile of the No-Splatter blade;

[0017]FIG. 5 is a top view of a spoutless container that shows the topof the No-Splatter blade extending across the diameter of the container;

[0018]FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a spoutless containershowing the profile of the No-Splatter blade extending across thediameter of the container;

[0019]FIG. 7 is a top view of a spoutless container that shows the topof the arched No-Splatter blade extending across the diameter of thecontainer;

[0020]FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a spoutless containershowing the profile of the arched No-Splatter blade extending across thediameter of the container.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] Referring now to FIG. 1, in which the top of a container 3 with aspout 2 is represented. The cross-section notation 4 is referenced forthe cross-section of the container in FIG. 2. The No-Splatter blade inFIG. 1 and FIG. 2 which may may be of varying thickness is designed to“cut” liquid as it moves from the container into the spout. As thecontainer is tilted to pour the liquid, cohesion causes the liquid to bedrawn to the blade 1, and when the liquid reaches the end of the spoutand the end of the No-Splatter blade, adhesion compells it to cometogether in the center. This prevents splattering.

[0022]FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show, respectively the top and cross-section ofa spoutless container 3. The cross-section notation 4 is referenced forthe cross-section of the container in FIG. 4. The No-Splatter blade 5creates an internal spout in the spoutless container, functioning on thesame basis of cohesion and adhesion as in the spouted container in FIG.1 and FIG. 2.

[0023]FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show, respectively the top and cross-section ofa spoutless container 3. The cross-section notation 4 is referenced forthe cross-section of the container in FIG. 4. The No-Splatter blade 6creates an internal double spout in the spoutless container, functioningon the same basis of cohesion and adhesion as in the spouted containerin FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The No-Splatter blade 6 is in the form of arectangle extending across the diameter of the container 3. The bottomof the blade 6 cuts the liquid, which is then poured from either side ofthe container 3 where the No-Splatter blade 6 connects with thecontainer 3 side.

[0024]FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are identical to FIG. 6 and FIG. 8 respectively,except that the bottom of the No-Splatter blade 7 is arched. This allowsfor a longer liquid “cutting” surface and takes up less space.

What is claimed is as follows:
 1. A No-Splatter blade made of materialat least as cohesive as the container in which it is placed separatesliquid as it is poured through a spout. Cohesion pulls the liquid to theblade and adhesion pulls the liquid to the center as it pours past theblade and out of the spout, thereby eliminating splatter.
 2. Forcontainers without spouts, the No-.Splatter blade creates an internalspout that prevents splattering by using the principles of cohesion andadhesion.
 3. A double internal spout is created for containers without aspout by inserting a rectangular No-Splatter blade across the topdiameter of the container. This “cuts” the liquid from side to side andis particularly useful for less viscous thick liquids. This is anotheruse of the principles of cohesion and adhesion. This rectangular blademay also be used on spouted containers, in which instance it wouldextended beyond the container and into the spout as in claim
 1. 4. Adouble internal spout is created for containers without a spout byinserting a No-Splatter blade as in claim 3, except that the lower halfof the rectangle is arched. This creates a longer liquid “cutting” edge.This rectangular blade may also be used on spouted containers, in whichinstance it would extended beyond the container and into the spout as inclaim 1.